U.S. soldiers blow up Saddam statue: "With a thunderous explosion from 12 pounds of plastic explosives, the U.S. military toppled a 30-foot statue of Saddam Hussein on horseback from its perch overlooking the dictator's hometown Friday. Soldiers also defused a huge homemade bomb near Baghdad's airport."

Bush, Blair defend claims about Iraq arms: "President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair contend they won't be proved wrong in their prewar claims about Iraq's weapons capabilities. Even if they are, says Blair, a menace has been defeated."

Analysts reportedly missed faked documents: "Documents alleging Iraq sought uranium from Africa were obtained months before President Bush cited them in making his case for war, but intelligence analysts did not look at them closely enough to know they were forgeries until after Bush had made the claim, U.S. officials say."

Philippines OKs cease-fire with rebels: "The Philippine government announced a cease-fire deal with a Muslim rebel group Friday, agreeing to drop arrest warrants against rebel leaders for alleged terrorism to pave the way for peace talks as early as next week."

Israel may free jailed Islamic militants: "Israel may release a few dozen Islamic militants along with several hundred other Palestinian prisoners, a move that could give a critical boost to lagging peace efforts, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday."

New chip can be implanted in humans: "Borrowing from technology for tracking pets, a U.S. company on Thursday launched Mexican sales of microchips that can be implanted under a person's skin and used to confirm health history and identity."

Grenade kills U.S. soldier, Iraqi child: "A U.S. soldier and an eight-year-old Iraqi child were killed in and around the capital Wednesday, as pro-Saddam Hussein insurgents unleashed a string of violent attacks on the eve of a recently banned Baath Party holiday."

Texans face mess left in Claudette's wake: "Claudette began dissipating over South Texas on Wednesday morning after walloping the coastline with sustained winds of more than 85 mph, killing at least two people inland and littering its path with damage."

Tenet to testify on Iraq uranium claim: "CIA Director George Tenet was expected to testify behind closed doors Wednesday about President Bush's claim in his State of the Union address that Iraq was trying to buy uranium in Africa to restart its nuclear weapons program."

Consumer prices rise 0.2 percent in June: "Consumer prices increased by a modest 0.2 percent in June, reversing a dip in April and a flat performance last month, as the cost of energy, clothes and airline fares rose."

More than 100 may be dead in India floods: "More than 100 people were feared dead in flash floods caused by a heavy rain Wednesday in a remote hill area in northern India, the state's top elected official said."

W.Va. county ready for Lynch, not media: "Residents here are ready with open arms to welcome back hometown sweetheart Pfc. Jessica Lynch. The potential media swarm she may generate is another thing entirely."

Iraqi Council to set up tribunals: "Iraq's first postwar national political body said on Tuesday it would set up a high commission to run a special court system to try former members of Saddam Hussein's regime and others accused of crimes against humanity."

Abbas, Arafat settle their dispute: "A Palestinian attacker stabbed a man to death and wounded another in Tel Aviv on Tuesday in what police called the first terror attack in an Israeli city since militant groups declared a truce June 29. Palestinian leaders, meanwhile, said they settled a rift that jeopardized peace efforts."

Bush: U.S. working hard to find Iraq WMD: "President Bush, facing questions about his credibility, says the United States is working overtime to prove Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction before the United States invaded Iraq."

Feds refuse to produce al-Qaida witness: "The Justice Department acknowledges its defiance of a judge's order may cause dismissal of charges against accused Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, but says it won't produce an al-Qaida prisoner for questioning by the defendant."

Bush defends intelligence as 'darn good': "Defending his credibility, President Bush said Monday the United States made the right decision to invade Iraq and the intelligence on which he relied was "darn good" - even though some of it now is in question."

Iraqi council to send delegation to U.N.: "Iraq's new governing council, acting confidently in its first full day on the job, voted Monday to send a delegation to the U.N. Security Council and assert its right to represent Baghdad on the world stage."

Feds refuse to produce Moussaoui witness: "Defying a court order, the Justice Department said Monday it would not make an al-Qaida witness available to terrorism suspect Zacarias Moussaoui - even though prosecutors understood this could mean dismissal of the charges."

Gov. Davis' backers plot legal strategy: "Organizers of the Republican-led drive to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis fanned out across California on Monday to turn in their last batch of petitions, saying they had collected 1.6 million signatures - almost twice what they needed."

Liberian war refugees move to stadium: "Buckets in hand, thousands of rain-soaked Liberian war refugees gathered Monday on the muddy soccer field of a sports stadium, clamoring for emergency food rations."

Mandela urges more action vs. HIV/AIDS: "The failure of the world to share lifesaving AIDS treatment with the "millions of people who need it most" in the developing world is a travesty, Nelson Mandela told the biggest AIDS research conference of the year Monday."

Dow closes up 58 on strong bank earnings: "Better-than-expected profits from Citigroup and Bank of America lifted Wall Street Monday as investors grew more optimistic about a strong economic rebound. A late-day sell-off, however, limited the gains."

Kings' Webber pleads guilty to contempt: "In a deal expected to keep him out of prison, NBA All-Star Chris Webber pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of lying about money he repaid a Michigan booster."

US Soldier Dies in Baghdad Grenade Attack: "One U.S. soldier was killed and six werewounded when a military convoy came under attack withrocket-propelled grenades in central Baghdad Monday, a U.S.military spokesman said. (Reuters)"

Storm gathers strength in Gulf of Mexico: "A hurricane watch was posted Sunday along the South Texas coast as Tropical Storm Claudette crawled across the Gulf of Mexico, and campers packed up and left low-lying South Padre Island."

U.S.-backed Iraqi governing council meets: "With the blessing of U.S. administrators, Iraqis inaugurated a broadly representative governing council Sunday dominated by the Shiites once oppressed by Saddam Hussein, planting the seeds of the nation's political future three months after the dictator's ouster."

Fox's party loses 49 seats in Mexico: "Mexico President Vicente Fox's party lost 49 congressional seats in midterm elections as the former ruling party bounced back from a stinging defeat in 2000, a federal electoral official said Sunday."

Homes evacuated near Tampico, Wash. fire: "About 20 houses were evacuated Sunday in a remote area of south-central Washington and officials were concerned about others as a wildfire spread rapidly in nearby timber."

Jazz master Benny Carter dies at 95: "Jazz great Benny Carter, a master of melodic invention on the alto saxophone who also was a renowned composer, instrumentalist, orchestra leader and arranger, has died, friends said Sunday. He was 95."

'Pirates' plunders box office for $46.4M: "Disney was rolling in doubloons as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" plundered the box office for $46.4 million in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday."

Officials say Bush uranium claim accurate: "The Bush administration said Sunday the president's statement in the State of the Union address about Iraq's seeking uranium was accurate and is supported by other British and U.S. information."

Kuwaiti ruler appoints new prime minister: "Kuwait's emir appointed his brother as prime minister on Sunday, separating the post from the crown prince for the first time in a move seen as a step toward political reform."

Iraqis inaugurate post-Saddam council: "A 25-member governing council of prominent Iraqis from diverse political and religious backgrounds was named at an inaugural meeting Sunday, the first national body since the fall of Saddam Hussein and a crucial first step on the nation's path to democracy."

Officials say Bush uranium claim accurate: "The Bush administration said Sunday the president's statement in the State of the Union address about Iraq's seeking uranium was accurate and is supported by other British and U.S. information."

U.S. kills four in new Iraq operation: "American forces killed four suspected insurgents and arrested more than 50 people as they launched a fourth major offensive in central Iraq, aiming to blunt anti-U.S. attacks expected during upcoming holidays once marked by Saddam Hussein's regime."

Search for N.H. kids focuses on Midwest: "Investigators are focusing their search for the bodies of two missing children from New Hampshire along the route their father traveled in the Midwest, authorities said Sunday."

Kobe Bryant tells paper he's innocent: "Speaking publicly for the first time since he was accused of sexual assault, Kobe Bryant denied the allegations and said he "would never do something like that.""

Calif. doctor faces sanctions over pot: "In a state where doctors are allowed to suggest marijuana for medical purposes, a medical panel is trying to suspend or revoke the license of a physician who has written 7,500 marijuana recommendations for his patients."

Bulls gore American man in Spanish run: "Bulls gored an American man and trampled at least seven people during a crowded bull run on the second-to-last day of Spain's San Fermin festival in Pamplona on Sunday."

"We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your
oppressors," Bush said, addressing Iraqis who might be
listening from afar. "We are coming to bring you food and
medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will
not stop, we will not relent until your country is free."
We are very proud of you,Keep your helmet on!

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